The Brief
- Federal authorities have seized 39 drones in less than two weeks for violating temporary flight restrictions over World Cup events in North Texas.
- Unauthorized flights above the Dallas Stadium and the FIFA Fan Fest at Fair Park constitute a federal crime, carrying penalties up to $100,000 in fines and prison time.
- The FBI and FAA are utilizing specialized counter-drone protection teams to track, detect, and permanently confiscate equipment from illegal operators.
DALLAS – Federal authorities have seized 39 drones in less than two weeks for violating temporary flight restrictions over World Cup events in North Texas, the FBI announced Monday.
Drone seizures
What we know:
The seizures have occurred since June 11 in restricted airspace established above Dallas Stadium and the FIFA Fan Fest at Fair Park. With the monthlong international soccer tournament now in full swing, local and federal agencies are escalating warnings to drone operators, noting that unauthorized flights in these zones constitute a federal crime.
Nine tournament matches are scheduled at AT&T Stadium in Arlington through July 14, drawing hundreds of thousands of fans to the region.…